Rancho Mirage - Betty Ford, the widow of former US president Gerald R. Ford, has died at age 93, FOX News Channel confirmed Friday, citing officials at the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library and Museum.

Betty Ford was also well known as the co-founder of the Betty Ford Center addiction clinic in California.

"I was deeply saddened this afternoon when I heard of Betty Ford's death," former first lady Nancy Reagan said in a statement confirming Ford's death.